Challenges

What is success? Success can mean different things to different people. To some, success is having lots of money and things, to others, its spending quality time with loved ones, to others, its traveling the world and enjoying its beauty.

Simply defined, success is “the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame; the correct or desired result of an attempt; someone or something that is successful: a person or thing that succeeds.”

It is said that success comes easy to some and is difficult for others, but in reality that is not the truth.

The Success Truth is that everyone who attempts something, and obtains the desired result, can be said to be successful. Thus, success can be measured and it can be attained.
For many people success is a lifelong ambition. They set goals, make plans and take action. Each time they succeed at one thing, they move on to the next using the same formula.

For others success came by route of a calamity or catastrophe that sets a person on the road to that “never happening again”.

Risk Factors of Success

Risk factors are conditions or habits that increase the chances of not accomplishing success or achieving success only to lose it again.
There are two types of success risk factors  those you can’t change and those you can control.

Risk factors are conditions or habits that increase the chances of not accomplishing success or achieving success only to lose it again.
There are two types of success risk factors  those you can’t change and those you can control.

One risk factor that cannot be changed is the responses and opinions of friends or family when you announce that you want to become a success. Yes, they love you and care about you, but sometimes they cannot see what you see or understand why you are doing what you are doing.

Risk factors that you can control are things that you have control over. Major risk factors that you can do something about are:

To protect your success, it is important to find out your personal risk. Remember, every risk factor counts in whether you succeed or fail. If you have any one of the risk factors listed above, you are much more likely to fail at your endeavors. Be careful if you have more than one risk factor. This is serious business, because risk factors tend to “gang up” and worsen each others’ effect.

For example, fear, doubt and anxiety are major factors that lead to stress. Stress leads to bigger things such as sickness and disease. Comfort zones and unhealthy activities lead to laziness and stagnation. Fortunately, you have tremendous power to prevent any of these things happen and you can start today.

The first step is to determine whether or not you really want success. Then you have to make changes to achieve the desired success.

MAKE CHANGES FOR A SUCCESSFUL LIFE

* Set realistic, specific goals
* Act on your goals — one step at a time
* Figure out what is stopping you from making or sticking to your successful life. Keep a record which will help you to identify barriers and inspire you to reach your goals.
* Don’t give up — get back on track when you slip up
* Reward yourself for the gains you’ve made — get something or do something that you like
* Make a plan to maintain momentum for the successful life you desire. Hey, even involve your friends and family — who knows, they may change their minds and join you.

NOW YOU ARE READY FOR ACTIONS

Follow your plan
Kick unhealthy habits
Get help from other successful people, if you need it
Do different things
Aim high and never, ever give up.

Like this:

It’s finally here, the time of year when we see if we have staying power or not.

Twelve days of January have gone and those who set big resolutions are asking themselves, “What was I thinking?”

Those, like myself, who didn’t even think about resolutions, are breathing a sigh of relief and celebrating the season for what it really is, a time of reflecting and rejuvenating in order to approach 2016 with new vitality and focus. Now is the time to make the first two or three months of this new year really meaningful.

Here is one thing that should get you geared up for a successful 2016.

Honor yourself.

You made it through 2015. Things may not have gone exactly the way you planned, or maybe they did. Still you made it. Give yourself a pat on the back. This is the time of year to pause and celebrate the person you are today. Yes, there are still changes you want to make, but for now, celebrate and honor you.

For those of you who journal, take the time to memorialize what the past 12 month journey of 2015 was like. Write about the highs and the lows, the ups and the downs, the setbacks and steps forward. Embrace it all. Those experiences have allowed growing and excelling to take place.

What about your expectations, goals, and aspirations for 2016. Yes, now is the time to write them down and plan out what it will take to make 2016 the year of expansion and accelerated growth.

For those of you who blog, then share your story with us. Teach us how you did it; what you learned, and show us how we too can achieve great success through, dare I say it, hard work and determination.

Share your stores of how important it is to be kind and generous, thinking of others as much as yourself. Let us know where you came from and how far you have journeyed. Yes, it doesn’t hurt at all to remember your roots.

Finally, tell us who gave you love and support during this time of change or growth. Who were those influencers and supporters of all you accomplished? Hey, having an attitude of gratitude can propel you way faster than you ever dreamed.

Indulge yourself. You have a full year ahead of you. Take this time to focus and plan. You owe it to yourself.

“Let go of the past and go for the future. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

I wanted to share these words of encouragement from a fellow blogger whose mission is to inspire and motivate those who land on their page.

Change is our biggest fear, but it is also a part of living. At the end of the day change is going to come. How we react to that change will determine the outcome. It will be positive if we embrace it and negative if we fight it.

Courage means taking action.

Aminellie says when change comes, “Do not crumble” and “Hold on“. I am in total agreement with that.

Now then take these words of inspiration and motivation from Aminellie and Kick Fear Now.

Your life lacks motivation. You see no sense in going on. In fact, the future looks pretty bleak from where you are standing.

Many people feel this way after experiencing a devastating loss. The loss of a loved one – a spouse, child, parent, sibling, close friend, partner – can leave you so numbed that you can’t do anything.

What now? Who will be there for you? The one person, that filled a big place in your life, has suddenly gone.

Any type of loss is overwhelming. The fear of living again almost always follows that loss. Days, weeks, months, and even years go by and you just can’t find the willpower to get back to the act of living.

Yet, live you must, even if only one day at a time.

You have to find the determination that moves you forward to your future. Your loved one’s greatest request is that you carry on living. It is not easy, but you can be happy again. You can have dreams. You can set goals and you can pursue high ambitions. Even if you never fully accomplish them, they will allow you to feel again.

To get you on the process of being again, find like-minded people who have also experienced loss of someone close. Find a group that you feel comfortable with and start to attend their gathering. If a group does not work for you then find one or two close friends to share with. There is nothing more comforting than sharing stories and communicating your feelings to get you through the grieving process.

When you are ready move on to the next process of doing something that reminds you the world has not stopped turning. This could be something small like going for a walk, attending a social function, or reviving a “put on the back burner” hobby. It could be something big, like learning something new or going someplace different.

The key is to keep the momentum going. Don’t stay stagnant and whatever you do don’t lock yourself away.

Cherish the memory of your loved one by living your life, to the fullest, one day at a time.

You are not forgetting them. Rather, you are choosing to embrace life for you — and for them.

One by one they walk up the steps, move across the stage, and accept their diploma.

The time it took to accomplish this wonderful goal, whether 2 years, 4 years, or even more, will now be fully sealed and secured by this rolled up piece of paper.

All those late nights, tests and papers, essays and presentations are now behind.

No more pulling your hair out or burning the midnight oil while you guzzle down cans of energy drinks.

The hard work is done. Your labor was not in vain. The years of sacrifice is evidenced by this beautifully embossed diploma.

Some graduates walk across the stage looking very serious. With determination and purpose, their minds are already mapping out the next five years of their lives. Others walk with a smile on their face, a little bit of disbelief still in their eyes. They are pleased with their accomplishment, yet unsure of what to do next. Nevertheless, they are satisfied with a job well done. Then there are those that strut across the stage, big grins on their faces.

One turns and looks at the crowd, pumps a fist in the air and lets out a big “Yes”. A cheer comes from where family and friends are seated. It was a rough ride, so victory is all the more sweet.

Many of you have wanted to give up along the way. The assignments were hard, the pressure too high, and the setbacks just never seemed to stop.

For you who stayed the course and did not throw in the towel, you have earned this milestone celebration. You are people on purpose. Fear once held a big place in your life, but not now. You will accomplish anything you set your mind to because courage is now a part of who you are.

For you who stepped off for a moment, but stepped back on, I’m proud of you. You’ve come a long way in keeping unrealistic fear from taking its grip and hold. You have truly earned your diploma. You are a champion because of your determination and perseverance.

For you who have stopped and started, screamed and shouted, thrown in the towel and picked it up again to complete this course. I salute you. Go on and raise your hands in triumph because you did it.

Now, my question to you is – What’s Next?

Well, I say that it’s time to expand your vision, raise your sights higher, and move to the next level. Chapter 2 is about to begin.

You have your plans and goals, your dreams and visions. It’s all about moving forward courageously one action step after another.

Now, with that degree in your hand step triumphantly off the stage. It’s time to step forward to success — your success!

“Enlarge the place of your tent; stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your pegs. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left. And your descendants will possess nations, and they will resettle the desolate cities.” Isaiah 54:2-3

I was told that 2014 is the year of expansion so I prayed, “Lord, enlarge my territory”.

The vision for my life was more than what I was experiencing. I was depressed and disheartened. Each time I tried to make progress something or someone came along to distract or discourage me. Eventually, with back-to-back delays, I realized that if I did not do something soon discouragement would derail everything that I had worked so hard to accomplish.

My dreams, goals, and plans were still there. I was more than willing to step into new territory.

My expectations were high. My heart wide open. Yet, here I was at a dead-end. Not sure what to do, where to turn, or how to move.

How had I come to this point? When did I step off the road that was moving me towards success? The peace I had once experienced was now replaced with chaos and turmoil. I searched my memory and racked my brains to see what had caused me to make this detour. Even more importantly, how was I going to get though it?

What or who had caused me to take one detour after another? I wanted to move forward, but was not sure which direction to go or even how to start. Each time I attempted to move the question arose, “What price are you willing to pay in order to move forward?”

One thing about expansion is that it requires you to move from a place of comfort and familiarity. You have to leave behind what you know in order to step into what will at first be new and strange. Questions will fill your mind. Doubt will rise up. Uncertainty will show itself.

Growth and expansion is often messy and chaotic. Things do not always go according to your plan. Deadlines are rarely met and delays often set us back. But despite how it looks you must still continue with your plan.

When you ask for something that involves change, you will get what you ask for. What you have to remember is that despite great plans and good intentions obstacles will come your way. All you have to do is learn to pick yourself up after each setback. Don’t give up because it hurts. Instead, keep your eyes on the prize. Stay focused on your ultimate goal and take whatever steps you need to in order to get there.

I asked for my territory to be enlarged. The price that I was willing to pay — Proceed with Caution. I got what I asked for. How about you?

What have you asked for in this year of expansion? What cost are you willing to pay to achieve success? If you have already begun the journey, what has been some of the challenges or setbacks you have faced? How have you overcome those obstacles? Please let us know. It might help us to get moving towards our dreams a little bit quicker.

You know what makes me angry, people who don’t curb their dogs. Believe you me, I don’t have anything against dogs or their owners. Dogs are wonderful companions. Many a pooch has passed through my life at one time or another. In fact, at one point we had 4 of them at home, all running around and causing havoc. No, what gets me mad is dog poop.

Yes, you got it, dog poop. And not just dog poop, but dog poop that is in the middle of the sidewalk. You know the kind, dog poop that you have to dance around or jump over in order to get to the curb without stepping into it. I get even angrier if I’m not looking down and step right into a pile of dog poop. Oh yes that has happened to me. Why don’t people just curb their dogs as the sign says, and — because it is the law.

Unrealistic fear, like dog poop, gets me real angry. That’s why I wrote the book Kick Fear to the Curb: 5 Action Steps for a Courageous You. Fear used to get in my way of doing the things I wanted to do and you know what, that made me angry, so angry that I decided to do something about it.

In her book, Anger: The Misunderstood Emotion, Carol Tavris explains that fear and anger aren’t that different. She says that “any event that is unfamiliar, intrusive and compelling – and that potentially requires you to respond – will stimulate the production of adrenaline, and, to a varying extent, noradrenalin as well.” What differs, she informs us, is each individual’s reaction and behavior.

I don’t know about you, but stepping in a pile of dog poop is very intrusive and so is living a life filled with unrealistic fear. Poop and unrealistic fear need to be curbed, out of your way of moving forward.

Why did I choose the curb as the place where unrealistic fear should eventually end up? The curb is an edge built along the street to form a gutter. It’s a raised edge that is meant to confine or strengthen the sidewalk. The gutter is recessed underneath the curb.

Anything that gets to the curb will eventually end up in the gutter.

There are so many of us that allow fear to be the center of attention in our life experiences. Every time you’re ready to do something, be it great or small, here comes unrealistic fear. First, it triggers your memory to search for a similar, long ago experience. Then, it forces you to dwell on the bad feelings that took place with that situation. Next, it uses those same emotions to put doubt and fear in your mind. Before you know it you are hesitant, reluctant to take that chance of feeling that way again. But, this should not be how you react.

Just like bypassing that dog poop, with unrealistic fear you have to take action. Do everything possible not to allow it to throw you off your path. Move around it, jump over it, dance if you must, just don’t let it stop you from moving forward. For me, I put unrealistic fear where it belongs — below, not above; underneath, not on top.

You should be the one looking down and gloating at fear, not the other way around.

So, if you are ready for a change and unrealistic fear is blocking your way, kick fear now and keep on stepping right into the life you always dreamed of living.